Mask washer



A. NIEDZIELSKI ETAL Feb. 18, 1969 3,428,058

MASK WASHER Filed OC'. 12, 1966 I T MH.-

United States Patent O Erie, Pa., assign- Inc., Erie, Pa., a

3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is a mask washer for cleaning residual paint from paint machines wherein the masks are supported above the bafile and paint solvent is sprayed on them. The paint laden solvent falls down on the horizontal bafile and runs off the edge of it into a sump. A partition is supported between the sump and a solvent reservoir. The solvent reservoir is belowthe bafile. The partition terminates slightly below the baflle so that the solvent can run over the partition into the reservoir. The paint settles out of the solvent into the sump and may be cleaned out from time to time.

This invention relates to cleaning devices and, more particularly, to machines for cleaning the paint residue ofi.E of spray painting masks and the like.

In cleaning the residue paint from spray painting stencils and masks, the excess paint is washed from the masks and the residual paint becomes suspended in the liquid solvent. This solvent, containing suspended paint, is resprayed upon the stencils and masks. Various devices have been provided for removing such paint residue from the solvent and for filtering the suspended residue from the solvent; however, none of these have been entirely satisfactory.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved spray paint mask cleaning device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solvent cleaning device which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and etficient to use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved sump arrangement in combination with a mask washer.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved duct system in a mask washer.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proport'ions, and minor details of construction without departng from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a mask washer according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an end view of the mask washer shown in FIG. 1.

Now with more particular reference to the drawing, the mask washer shown is made up of a tank having a bottom 11, a front wall 12, a rear wall 13, and end walls 14 and 15. The tank has a cover 16 which is hinged by means of hinges 25 to the marginal duct 24.

The sump cover 17 is hinged at its rear edge to the rear wall 13 of the tank so that it can be swung upward during cleaning of the settled paint residue in the sump.

It will be noted that the tank is supported on inverted channels 23 which form a rigid support for the base.

The bottom 11 extends rearward under the rear wall 13 and is spaced outwardly and rearwardly from the rear wall 13 and the sump is defined by the rear sump wall 34. A partition 19 extends upwardly from the bottom and is supported between the two cleats 35 which are welded to the bottom 11 of the tank and define a groove 22 therebetween. A bafile 18 is welded to two angle iron supports which are welded to ends 14 and 15 slightly above the partition 19 and provides a slot between the partition and 'bafifle 18. This allows liquid to flow over from the clean out area to the sump pump area and is supported in a plane parallel to the plane of the bottom 11 and slightly above the plane of the sump cover 71. The bafile 18 is supported slightly forward of the rear wall 13 so that a slot 20 is defined between the rear wall 11 and the baflle 18. The marginal edges of the baflle 18 are sealed to the inside surface of the ends 14 and 15 and the front wall 12 so that the liquid solvent must run from the top of the baflle 18 through the slot 20 to the sump 34 and will not run to the space in front of partition 19.

An exhaust system is provided by means of the exhaust duct 32 which is connected to a plenum chamber 31 and this communicates with the marginal duct 24 which extends entirely around the top of the tank. The marginal duct has holes 36 therein which communicate with the inside of the duct 24 and the exhaust system exhausts the fumes of solvent from the tank into the duct and thus prevents them from entering the ambient air. The holes may be spaced every six inches, for example, to permit the fumes from the solvent that sprays on the articles from the nozzles 28 to be drawn into the duct system and to pass through the exhaust system to the outside air, or slots can be provided.

Brackets 26 are hinged to the inside wall of the tank by means of hinges 27 and they may extend entirely across the tank as indicated.

A solvent circulating and spraying system is provided by way of pump 29 which is Controlled by means of a control panel 33 and which communicates with the pipe 30 which, in turn, connects to the nozzles 28.

In operation, a quantity of clean solvent will be placed in the area below the bafile 18 and in front of the partition 19. The articles to be washed will be supported on the brackets 26. When ready the control pedal 33 will be actuated by the operator. Thus, the pump 29 will start and drive a pump to pump liquid from the bottom of the tank in front of the partition 19 through the inlet pipe 37 and thence to the pipe 30 onto the articles supported on brackets 26. The fumes from the liquid 'impinging on the articles will be drawn through the openings 36 into the plenum chamber' 31 and out the exhaust system 32 when cover is open only. The liquid dripping from the articles will fall onto the baflle 18 and be directed through the slot 20 into the clean out area directly behind partition 19.

The residual paint dissolved in the solvent will settle to the bottom of the sump 34 as sludge and may be removed by swinging the cover 17 upward, thus opening the sump behind bafiie 19. As the sump fills up, the solvent having had its entrained paint settle out, will flow over the top of the partition 19 into the chamber ahead of 'it where it may be pumped by the pump 29 and the cycle repeated.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modificaton within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive 1. A machine for washing material from articles of manufacture comprisng a tank,

means in said tank for washing material,

said tank having a bottom and a wall extending upwardly from said bottom,

a part of said wall having a lower edge spaced above said bottom,

said 'bottom ex'tending outwardly beyond said wall,

*a 'bafile, said 'baflle being |horizontally disposed in said tank spaced above said bottom and adjacent thereto,

'an impervious partition in said Itank extending from said bottom upwardly and terminating in spaced relation to said baffle below the lower edge of said part of said wall and defining a sump outward of said wall,

said bafile overlying said partition,

the upper edge of said partition and said baflle defining a space connecting said surnp with said tank below said bafile whereby liquid may flow from said tank |above said baffle to 'said sump and from said sump to said tank [below said baffle,

and access means to said sump whereby sludge 'may 'be removed from said sump.

2. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein said tank has nozzle means therein above said bafile for spraying liquid on articles of manufactu, and circulating means connected to said tank 'below said baffie and to said n'ozzle means for directing liquid from said tank below said baffle onto said articles.

3. The machine recited in claim 2 wherein means is provided on said tank for supporting said articles of manufacture above said baffle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,519 7/1932 Rataiczak 134-111 1,896,149 2/1933 Zademach 134-104 3,308,839 3/1967 Barday 134-109 20 ROBERT L. BLEUTZE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

